Are there any alternatives to mitre saw protractors?

2nd March 2020


	Are there any alternatives to mitre saw protractors?


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			Mitre saw protractors are not the only measuring tools that can be used in combination with mitre saws. Mitre guides, digital angle finders and digital protractors are similar to mitre saw protractors, are able to measure and transfer angles, and even come with different features. Read on to find out about the alternatives to mitre saw protractors.

			Mitre guides
			A mitre guide is a measuring tool that contains rotating arms that are able to measure internal and external angles to produce mitre cuts and mark out workpieces. It has a similar design to a mitre saw protractor, however it does not contain any type of scale or protractor to tell you the exact angle.

			Instead of using a protractor to measure angles, a mitre guide uses a rectangular flag located near the centre of the guide. When manoeuvring the arms of the mitre guide to fit an angle, the flag also moves, providing you with the halved angle.

			Once you have determined the angle you are measuring, the mitre guide can be placed against the mitre saw and the saw blade positioned to the same angle as the flag on the guide.

			The straight-edged arms of the mitre guide also allow basic marking of workpieces so they can be cut.

			Mitre guides are ideal if you are looking to measure and transfer internal, external and mitre cut angles to your mitre saw. However, as they do not contain any type of scale that can be read, the chance of error is increased.

			For instance, you could accidentally move the mitre guide after you measure an angle, which could lead to the mitre guide being set at the incorrect angle. If this does happen, then cutting material at the wrong angle will waste time and money. As mitre guides do not contain readable scales, you may forget the measurement and have to start again.

			Mitre guides vs. mitre saw protractors Mitre saw protractors are more reliable as they have readable scales so you can instantly determine the size of the angle you are measuring. The angle can be transferred to a mitre saw straight away, saving time and effort. With the mitre guide you have to adjust the mitre saw blade until it is in the same position as the rectangular flag. This can take time and you need to make sure it is accurate or you could make errors, wasting time and money.

			If you had to choose between the mitre guide or mitre saw protractor, the protractor would be the best option for your money as it is suitable for more applications and is more reliable. If you are looking for a cheap alternative to mitre saw protractors then a mitre guide is the tool for you, though it is a little more difficult to use.

			Digital angle finders
			Digital angle finders are angle measuring tools that contain two arms. Many designs come with a digital protractor so they can automatically calculate the angles for single cuts and mitre cuts. Most models have a memory so they can remember the angle measured at the touch of a button.

			Digital angle finders are able to produce compound cuts without the use of a conversion table. For example, if you were installing crown mouldings, the first thing you would require is the spring angle to be measured. Once you have determined the measurement, it is saved using the compound cut button.

			These tools allow you to measure corner angles near the ceiling, then save the angle within the memory of the tool. The angle calculation system then establishes the correct mitre cut angle using the compound cut button. The mitre cut angle in this example is 34.7 degrees; this is would be the setting for your mitre saw.

			Pressing the compound cut button once more would display the bevel angle setting that your mitre saw needs to be set at. The digital display shows a 30.9 degree bevel angle. Once you had set up the correct mitre cut and bevel cut angles on the mitre saw, you would then be ready to produce compound cuts to install crown moulding.

			Digital angle finders can include an attachable extension arm which helps measure angles in hard-to-reach areas.

			Another design feature that the digital angle finders include are two spirit levels. The levels are used to establish whether a surface is horizontal (level) or vertical (plumb).

			Digital angle finders vs. mitre saw protractors Digital angle finders have a number of features that can be used on a range of different applications, from measuring specific angles to calculating compound cuts to transfer to a mitre saw. These tools can perform the same tasks as a mitre saw protractor and more, using a automatic calculation system instead of manually being read off a scale.

			Digital angle finders are much faster to use than mitre saw protractors, using buttons to calculate specific angles. This saves time when working on jobs and requires less effort from the user.

			However, digital angle finders, compared with mitre saw protractors, are more expensive and may be more difficult to repair if they become damaged.

			Overall, the best option would be down to what you are willing to pay. Digital angle finders are expensive but are very versatile measuring tools, essentially you would be purchasing 4 tools in one: an angle finder, protractor, level, and compound cut calculator. If you want fast and accurate measurements and you are going to constantly use the tool then a digital angle finder would be ideal for you. If you want to simply measure angles and transfer them to your mitre saw and do not want to pay a high price then the mitre saw protractor would be best for you.

			Digital protractors
			Digital protractors are similar to digital angle finders, using automatic calculations to establish angles for mitre cuts and bevel cuts. They allow you to transfer angles for applications such as installing crown mouldings, mitre joints, roof slopes and wall corners.

			Their design allows the protractor to be set at zero degrees at any point, meaning you are able to measure angles clockwise, anti-clockwise and even both ways.

			The available arm lengths for these protractors are 75mm (3 inch) and 200mm (8 inch). This is so they can be used on internal and external angles, in small and large areas.

			Some types of digital protractors contain magnets on the edge of each arm so the protractor can be attached to metallic surfaces. On the bottom of is a locking mechanism in the form of a lever, which can be adjusted to tighten the arms so measurements can be held for later use.

			Digital protractors vs. mitre saw protractors Digital protractors are of a similar price to mitre saw protractors and both perform similar applications. The difference between the two tools is in the way that angles are read. Digital protractors use an automatic calculator to measure angles, while mitre saw protractors use scales and an arrow to determine the measurement of an angle.

			The downside to digital protractors is that they are able to produce compound cuts (mitre and bevel cut) but do not contain a compound cut calculator for crown mouldings. If you did want to install crown moulding with this tool then it would require time and effort using a calculator as well as the protractor.

			When deciding which to choose between a mitre saw protractor or a digital protractor, there really is not much difference. If you want to install crown mouldings, a mitre saw protractor with a compound cut conversion table would be the better option, as a digital protractor does not allow for this.